Community & Population HealthCommunity support of the local health care system is vital for sustainability and growth. Learn how to create a healthier and more engaged community by working with The Center.

Health Information Technology ConsultingAs the national knowledge center on rural electronic health record adoption, The Center offers comprehensive services targeted at rural hospitals, rural health clinics and state and national HIT programs.

LeadershipSuccess begins with strong, informed leadership. The Center offers a variety of services, on-site and remotely, to leaders to assess strengths and identify areas of useful performance improvement.

Strategic PlanningEffective planning is critical for organizational success. Expertly facilitated services conducted by The Center’s staff of national rural health experts will help hospitals and organizations achieve this success.

Performance ImprovementThe Center offers a complete spectrum of rural health performance improvement services. With support from The Center, clients succeed in aligning people, processes and resources with their mission.

Performance Management Group (PMG) CallsLearn from the experience of leading hospital administrators and nationally recognized field experts. PMG calls allow peer-to-peer education focused on preparing rural hospitals for new payment and care delivery models.

Athol Hospital, Athol, Massachusetts

In response to the high levels of mental health needs and the challenge of limited resources, Athol Hospital, located in Athol, Massachusetts, partnered with the Athol-Royalston Regional School District (ARRSD), the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) and Clinical & Support Options (CSO) to develop a collaborative school-based telepsychiatry model focused on bridging care gaps for children and families residing in the Athol Hospital and ARRSD service area.

The Athol School-Based Telepsychiatry program is an excellent example of how innovative approaches can effectively stretch limited resources across rural communities to increase access and improve outcomes. In accepting the award, Rebecca Bialecki, Vice President of Community Health at Heywood Healthcare, Athol Hospital’s parent organization, stated, “The development of the telehealth network has truly strengthened the partnership between our schools and our community mental health."

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,100,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Upcoming Events

The tentative topic for the March Flex VKG is CAHMPAS. Flex VKG webinars provide a forum for state Flex Programs to share successes, discuss challenges and brainstorm strategies for improvement and Flex Program excellence.

The tentative topic of the May TASC 90 is an update on the Flex supplemental funding EMS projects. This quarterly webinar will include updates from TASC, RQITA, FMT and FORHP, to include both the Flex Program and policies impacting critical access hospitals (CAHs).